Med Term Final 4

cardiac arrest

complete stopping of heart activity

Cataracts

lens becomes cloudy/opaque, whole vision field becomes blurry

cirrhosis

chronic liver disease

coagulate

formation of blood clot

coclear implant

hearing device surgically placed under skin behind ear

coma

profound unconsciousness or stupor resulting from illness or injury

computed tomography

diagnostic imaging technique that produces a cross-sectional view of body; X-rays taken from multiple angles are compiled by a computer to construct a composite cross-sectional view of the body

concussion

injury to the brain in which it is shaken inside of the skull

coronary, cardiac

pertaining to the heart

croup

acute viral infection in infants and children; symptoms include dyspnea and a characteristic barking cough

cryoextraction

procedure to remove lens with cataract using an extremely cold probe

deep

further below the surface

dementia

progressive impairment of intellectual function that interferes with performing activities of daily living

dermatome

instrument that cuts out a small section of skin or a thin slice of skin to be used for a graft

diabetes insipidus (DI)

condition due to insufficient ADH symptoms include polyuria & polydipsia

diabetes mellitus (DM)

chronic condition of sugar metabolism

symptoms include hyperglycemia and glycosuria

two types of diabetes mellitus

Insulin-dependent

(Type 1)

Non-insulin-dependent (Type 2)

diverticuli

plural; abnormal sac or pouch formed in a weak spot in the large intestine

DPT

diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus

dual-absorption absorptiometry (DXA)

test using low-dose x-ray beams to measure bone density; used to diagnose osteoporosis

ectopic pregnancy, salpingocyesis

pregnancy occuring outside of uterus, usually in uterine tubes; growing fetus will rupture uterine tube requiring salpingectomy; also called salpingocyesis

endometriosis

condition where endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus

endotracheal intubation (ET)

inserting tube through mouth and into trachea; creates open upper respiratory airway

eosin/o

rosy red

fasting blood sugar (FBS)

blood test to measure amount of sugar in bloodstream after a 12-hour fast

fissure

cracklike break in the skin

fistula

abnormal passageway between two organs

fracture

broken bone

frontal/ coronal plane

vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions

hearing aid

device used by persons with impaired hearing to amplify sound

hematocrit

blood test that measures volume of red blood cells within total volume of blood

hemophilia

inherited lack of a vital clotting factor; results in almost complete inability to stop bleeding

hemmorrhoids

varicose veins in rectum

humor

a substance (liquid, gel) that fills the anterior (aqueous) and posterior

hydrocele

accumulation of fluid within the scrotum

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypotension

low blood pressure

hypoxia

having insufficient amount of oxygen in body

impetigo

inflammatory skin disease with pustules that rupture and become crusted

insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)

Pancreas stops producing insulin (hormone that takes up glucose in the body). Problem = no regulation of blood sugar. Tends to develop early in life, can be autoimmune disease, must take insulin injections (A.K.A. Type 1)

jaundice

yellow-colored skin and whites of eyes associated with liver disease

L1-L5

lumbar vertebrae

laceration

jagged-edged skin wound caused by tearing of the skin; does not mean a skin cut

lower extremity

entire leg

macular degeneration

deterioration of macula lutea of retina; patient notices loss of vision in center of visual field

melena

very dark, tarry stool due to presence of blood

muscular dystrophy

one of a group of inherited diseases involving progressive muscle degeneration, weakness, and atrophy

myocardial

pertaining to the heart muscle

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

large group of drugs that provide mild pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits for conditions such as arthritis

oppurtunistic infections

infections seen in patients with compromised immune systems

pap smear

Test for early detection of cervical cancer; scraping of cells removed from cervix for examination under microscope.

phlebotomy

cutting into a vein

photophobia

excessive sensitivity to light leading to avoidance; not actual fear of light

placenta previa

placenta forms in lower portion of uterus and blocks birth canal; can require C-section for delivery

platlet count

blood test that determines the number of platelets in given volume of blood

pleurisy

inflammation of the pleura

Positron Emmission Tomography (PET)

use of positive radionuclides to reconstruct brain sections; measurement of oxygen and glucose uptake

premature birth

birth of fetus before 37 weeks of gestation

pressure equalizing tube

small tube surgically placed in a child's eardrum to assist in drainage of trapped fluid and to equalize pressure between the middle ear cavity and the atmosphere

prolapsed uterus

fallen uterus that can cause cervix to protrude through vaginal opening

prone

lie face down

prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

blood test to screen for prostate cancer

purulent

containing pus

pustule

raised spot on the skin containing pus

rectocele

protrusion or hernia of rectum into vagina

RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ

right upper quadrant, left upper quadrant, right lower quadrant, left lower quadrant

sagittal plane

vertical plane, slicing body into right and left portions

scoliosis

abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

scratch test

type of allergy testing in which body is exposed to allergens through a light scratch in skin

spasm

sudden, involuntary muscle contraction

sputum

mucus or phlegm coughed up and spit out from respiratory tract

strabotomy

incision into eye muscles to correct strabismus

strain

damage to the muscle or tendons from overuse or overstretching

subdural hematoma

mass of blood forming underneath dura mater when meninges are torn by trauma; can exert fatal pressure on brain if hematoma is not drained by surgery

subscapular

pertaining to below the scapula

supine

lie face up

syncope

fainting

tachycardia

fast heart beat

thalassemia

inherited blood disorder in which body is unable to correctly make hemoglobin, resulting in anemia

thrombolytic therapy

administering medication to dissolve blood clot and restore normal circulation

transverse plane

horizontal plane, slicing body into upper and lower portions

tubal ligation

surgical tying off of uterine tubes to prevent pregnancy

ulcer

open sore or lesion in the skin or mucous membrane

urgency

feeling the need to urinate immediately

urticaria

skin erruption of pale reddish wheals with severe itching; usually associated with food allergies, stress, or drug reactions

varicose veins

swollen and distended veins, most commonly in legs

venipuncture

puncture into a vein to withdraw blood or inject medication or fluids

white blood cell count

blood test that determines number of leukocytes in volume of blood; increase may indicate infection or leukemia; decrease may be caused by some diseases, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy

white blood cell differential

blood test determines number of each type of leukocyte

a-

without

an-

without

de-

without

ante-, pre-

before

anti-

against

auto-

self

bi-, di-

two

brady-

slow